ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2017 BETTING TIPS

2nd game : Australia vs New Zealand at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on 2nd June.

Australia vs New Zealand

2nd game to be played at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham at 15:00 GMT.

Australia is going to face New Zealand in their first game of the competition. Steven Smith has clearly stated that there is one thing on their mind i.e. to win this competition. The Current World Champions have done well in the one day format and with Mitchell Starc coming back to form for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Travis Head and David Warner have done well as opening pair for Australia while Aaron Finch will provide that extra-attacking option at the top of the order. Steven Smith has been prolific scorer for his side as Australian Captain will be keen to make a statement with the bat to make sure he is in top-form in the first game against arch-rivals New Zealand. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have done well in the format while Starc is a world-class bowler with superb skills at the death overs of the innings.

New Zealand will take this challenge on the chin as they will try their best to upstage Australia in the first game of the competition. Kane Williamson has been good as the leader of the side while players like Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and Trent Boult have done tremendously well for the side in the last couple of games. Neil Broom and Tom Latham inclusion into the side has provided depth to the batting resources as it the side seemed to be overly reliant on Williamson and Taylor to do bulk of the scoring. Trent Boult is a premier bowler for the side while Tim Southee and Matt Henry doing well with the ball in hand.

Head to Head record in Champions Trophy:

Australia has yet to be beaten by New Zealand as they have won three games out of four played in the Champions Trophy. The last clash in 2013 was abandoned due to rain. New Zealand will try their best to break the trend when they meet Australia on 2nd June.

Steven Smith is the player to look out for in the Australian lineup as captain has been in sublime form in the format scoring runs at a consistent rate for the past two years.

Kane Williamson will be key player for New Zealand as a big innings against arch-rivals could help the Kiwis pull off an upset over Australia.

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

The weather has been tricky as rain has played a role of spoilsport in the warm-up games as well. We could game reduced to rain as weather seems to be unpredictable at the moment.

Highest Totals: 408 by England against New Zealand in 2015

Since the Last Champions Trophy game between Pakistan and India, sides batting second have won the game more than ones electing to bat first.